Butte County Deputy Arrested In Sting Operation

CHICO (CBS13) - A Butte County sheriff's deputy has been arrested on suspicion of having an inappropriate relationship with a minor.

Deputy Earl Klapperich was dispatched to a call at Lake Madrone where he met two teenage girls at a cabin. That's where the relationship started, the district attorney says.

"The investigation indicating inappropriate touching of these runaway girls during the course of his duties as an officer," District Attorney Mike Ramsey said.

Investigators set up a sting to catch Klapperich. When he went to a restaurant on Friday in what he thought was a meeting with a 14-year-old girl he was texting, officers were there to arrest him instead.

CBS went to Klapperick's home Tuesday to get his side of what went down that day, but no one answered the door. A phone call to his mother went to voicemail.

Neighbors in the Chico neighborhood where Klapperrich lives were talking, however. One said Klapperick's arrest shatters her sense of safety.

"That's kind of one of the perks, that there are three officers on our street," Carrie Ramirez said. "I have five kids."

"It's shocking," said Karen Charmley, who lives next door. "It's sad."

Klapperich is expected to appear in court on June 1. He's currently out on bail.